Pairings | Results
June 2, 2026
San Francisco resident Matt Cohn may always remember this one as the Magnificent Seven.
Cohn sank a 10-foot birdie putt on the par-5 18th hole to dramatically hold off Jeremy Gearhart and Adam Yount and win the annual NCGA Mid-Amateur on a picture-perfect Tuesday at Poppy Ridge. The victory marked Cohn's seventh career NCGA title--the now 45-year-old's other NCGA victories include the Mid-Am Four-Ball and Four-Ball with partner Nick Randazzo, three Public Links, and the 2018 Mid-Am.
"I will definitely remember that one for a long time," who finished the event with a 36-hole score of 8-under 136 after a final round 71. "Today was tougher, but I hung in there. You never know in golf how things are going to shake out."
In what became a thriller, Cohn birdied the 16th hole to take a one-shot lead over Yount and Gearhart. On the ensuing par-3 17th, however, Yount and Gearhart made birdie, while Cohn had to settle for a par.
Standing on the 18th tee, all three were tied at a total of 7-under. Yount's third shot was a chip onto the green, but he missed his birdie try. Gearhart, who a day earlier posted an NCGA low 8-under 64 on the new Poppy Ridge, hit his second shot into the bunker protecting the front of the 18th green. His third shot stayed in the bunker, leaving him to settle for a par. Cohn, meanwhile, also chipped onto the green with his third shot. When it was his turn to putt, it rolled straight in, leading Cohn to throw his arms up in jubilation.
"On the 18th tee, I was thinking, I never made a putt for birdie on the last hole to win a tournament," Cohn said. "I had never had that experience. It wasn't a premonition, but I thought, 'This could happen here. It happened to go in."
Along with his birdies on 16 and 18, Cohn also carded a crucial birdie on the par-3 14th for the second straight day. In the first round, he nearly aced the hole, with his ball stopping just inches from the cup.
"The 14th is my new favorite hole," quipped Cohn.
Gearhart, winner of the 2023 NCGA Public Links, was on fire in the first round, posting a brilliant, bogey-free 64. Yount, who hails from Danville, put himself in contention with a final round 69.
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June 1, 2026
On a warm, somewhat calm day where low scores could be had, it was Jeremy Gearhart who went the lowest.
Gearhart (above), who hails from Atascadero, took the early lead at this week's annual NCGA Mid-Amateur Championship at Poppy Ridge with a solid, bogey-free 8-under 64 on Monday. Winner of the 2023 NCGA Public Links Championship, Gearhart was an equal opportunist, posting a 4-under 32 on both the front and back-nines of the championship course.
Over his last six holes, Gearhart would go 4-under par with four birdies.
Nearly identically matching Gearhart was 2024-25 NCGA Player of the Year Matt Cohn, who finished the day in second place at 65. Cohn, who won the Mid-Am in 2018 and is a six-time career NCGA champion, would card a 33 on the front-nine before closing with a 32 on the back.
Also going bogey-free, Cohn's easiest birdie came on the par-3 14th. Playing at 218 yards, his tee shot stopped just a few inches away from the cup (see photo and video below), leading to a tap-in.
Coming in with a 67, and alone in third place, is veteran Jeff Wilson. The NCGA's 2018 Senior Player of the Year, who at age 61 is one of the oldest players in the field, posted seven birdies to go against just two bogeys.
Defending champion Wes Payne opened with an even-par 72.
The final round will be held on Tuesday at Poppy Ridge.
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